Highfield House Selly Park

[Tinpot]

Recent Kensington Road search brought up some of the history of Highfield House . It was built in the 1890's and is now demolished. I was intrigued to read a quote by a writer called Walter Allen that 'Most English left-wing intellectuals and American intellectuals visiting Britain must have passed through Highfield between 1930 and 1950.' I even came across a photograph said to show a pagoda in the grounds but I couldn't make it out myself!

 

[pjmburns]

1904 map - the boat house (BH) predates Highfield as it is shown on the 1884 map.

 

[pjmburns]

By 1937 houses were beginning to encroach along the road - Highfield being 128 Selly Park Road

 

[pjmburns]

Present day google earth view

 

[pjmburns]

Meant to add to last post that Highfield was where Southbourne Close now is. The dark patch is the lake but I can't tell if the boatbouse is still there or not.

 

[Tinpot]

Details of a film on YouTube that shows Highfield House and talks about Birmingham writers. Sorry but I don't know how to do a proper link.

 

[pjmburns]

Tinpot - hope you don't mind but ... I think this is it

 

[oldMohawk]

Back in 2017 we had a good browse round this area as shown in the long thread below ...

Arch In Selly Park

Esteemed fellow Brummies. For those familiar with Selly Park : think of the Pershore Rd, junction Kensington Hotel. Walk up Kensington Road. At the very top on the right hand side (opposite the flank wall of the convent) are the grounds, including a little lake, of, after the old houses were...

birminghamhistory.co.uk

 

[Tinpot]

Tinpot - hope you don't mind but ... I think this is it

Thanks Janice. I'm struggling with an old iPad.